Release Blitz & Excerpt:
Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology, Volume 4
A Paranormal Collection Supporting LGBT Charity
This collection will be available for only 90 days before it’s gone forever.
Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered...
Why should Heart2Heart - the phenomenally successful dating app - only work its magic in the human world when lonely lycans, dejected dragons, and jilted jackalopes need love, too?
Why should Heart2Heart - the phenomenally successful dating app - only work its magic in the human world when lonely lycans, dejected dragons, and jilted jackalopes need love, too?
In this new paranormal universe, mages and shifters, vampires, psychics, and even humans, will reach out to Heart2Heart podcast host Gene E. Del’Amp for help finding a magical match… and they just might find that talking about their woes helps their wishes come true.
Eighteen of your favorite gay romance authors have come together to bring you brand-new paranormal and urban fantasy stories inspired by reader suggestions!
Once again, all proceeds from this collection will go to the authors’ favorite LGBTQ charities, to ensure that love in all its forms will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!
Book Links All Proceeds Go To Charity:
Universal Link
What is Heart2Heart?
Because Heart2Heart is a charity project, all of the work involved in creating and promoting each volume is donated. From the author's creative work, to the editing and formatting, to cover design and promotion, all donation efforts by the Heart2Heart team contribute to the project's ability to donate as much as possible to the chosen charities for each volume.
Heart2Heart is a unique anthology project in the way each story is brand new content that’s inspired by reader suggestions and fits within an overall theme. H2H volume 4 is no exception. In December 2019 we received more than 350 suggestions from readers that our authors then used to inspire their characters and the wishes that would come true thanks to the Heart2Heart podcast.
To shake things up with this new collection, the decision was made to bring together some of the best and brightest authors of paranormal and urban fantasy gay romance for an alternate reality experience. Working within the classic elements of shifters, vampires, mages, and more, we’re excited to present sixteen brand new stories with all of the humor, feels, and spice you would expect from Heart2Heart.
A Special Excerpt from the opening and closing Heart2Heart Story by Jeff Adams & Will Knauss:
Story title: A Caller from Grand Rapids
A brief description of your story: Former hockey player Noah McCarthy has a good life in Grand Rapids as a newspaper reporter. His alter ego, Gene E. Del’Amp is the host of the popular podcast Wish of Your Heart. Noah enjoys helping humans, lycans, vampires, witches and anyone else with a good wish. What happens if the genie is suddenly the subject of a wish?Excerpt:
Noah
“Okay, ready to head into the last segment?” I asked my producer slash assistant Marc.
Recording the podcast was my favorite part of the week because I got to unleash a side of me I kept tucked away the rest of the time. Wish of Your Heart had developed a good, and still growing, following since it premiered just over a year ago. The show filled a niche for humans and those with some kind of extra talent to talk out their fears and hopes about making a connection. Offering your heart to someone was never easy, even between two humans. But it could be more daunting if you were matching between different shifter species or a vampire with a human or… any other combination. Wrapping up romantic desires into a wish seemed to work for those who called in.
Listeners really loved—or really hated, there was no middle ground—the host I created with Gene E. Del’Amp. The name was ridiculous as was the unidentifiable European-esque accent I used for him. All of that was deliberate because I didn’t want anyone to figure out that Gene and I, former pro hockey player Noah McCarthy, were the same person. That would cause far more trouble than it’s worth. Only Marc knew my secret identity.
“Let’s do it,” I said, still sounding like myself. I only pulled Gene out when we were actually recording.
“And we’re back recording in three, two, one.” Marc hit a button on his computer and the voicemail played in my headphones.
“Hi. This is Thomas. So, um, here’s the thing, Gene, I’ve fallen for the guy I work with. I know it’s a mistake. You’re not supposed to be into the boss. And I really love my job, so I don’t want to fuck it up. What people don’t know is the boss is super sweet. He’s got a facade that’s snarky, but it’s all show. We work closely, and it’s a great relationship. I know he’s gay. Hell, we’ve even shared stories about guys we’ve dated.
“I’ve known him for over a year now, and I think we’d be good together. Every now and then, I’ll see a glint in his eye, like when I bring him his favorite latte or we talk about something we both like. It’s true, we even have a couple of shared hobbies. I wish I had the balls to ask him. What do you think, Gene? Can you grant me this so I take the leap? I’m willing to risk the job. I know you hate workplace relationships because of all the extra variables, but I listen all the time and sometimes wishes on the job come true.”
“Wow, Marc, you didn’t hold back for the last call, did you?” I spoke into the mic as Gene. Across the desk, Marc’s eyes danced with mischief along with a little something I couldn’t identify. He knew how to pick good voicemails. This one had potential workplace drama, a boss that might be too much of a friend, and the amount of pining in the voice that listeners would eat up. “You should see the look he’s giving me right now, waiting to see what I’m going to say.”
“Look? What look?” Marc added a smirk, one that even reflected in the tone of his voice. “I just want you to answer so we can wrap this thing up.”
What are your thoughts on being part of Heart2Heart volume 4?
After reading the stories in the previous three volumes, it was great to be asked to his particular cool kids’ table. Of course, since we have a podcast, it was a lot of fun writing the podcaster’s story.
Where can readers find you online:
JeffAdamsWrites.com, WillKnauss.com, and BigGayFictionPodcast.com
More information on the Charities chosen for Volume 4:
As with previous editions of the anthology, we’re honored to be donating our net profits to three deserving charities.
- Camp fYrefly (multiple locations, summer camp)
“Camp fYrefly is a summer camp and leadership retreat designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, intersexed, queer, and questioning youth, (LGBTQ2S+) and planned in part by a committee of the same youth it seeks to serve. Founded in 2004 by Dr. André P. Grace and Dr. Kristopher Wells, Camp fYrefly is designed to help youth develop the leadership skills and personal resiliency necessary for them to become agents for positive change in their schools, families, and communities.”
- Project 10 (youth services and advocacy, Quebec)
“Project 10 works to promote the personal, social, sexual and mental well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, intersexed and questioning youth and adults 14-25.
Through advocacy and education, using a harm reduction approach, Project 10 aims to facilitate the empowerment of youth at individual, community, and institutional levels with a particular emphasis on supporting individuals and groups who experience multiple and intersecting oppressions.
Services are free of charge, confidential and anonymous, and are offered in English and French.”
- QMUNITY (local services, BC)
“A non-profit organization based in Vancouver, BC that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives. We provide a safer space for LGBTQ/2S people and their allies to fully self-express while feeling welcome and included. Our building serves as a catalyst for community initiatives and collective strength.”
These are all great Charities and we need to take care of our youth and the next generation. Love is Love. Be safe and kind. No one should have to suffer for who they are or who they love!!
Authors and their stories:
Jeff Adams & Will Knauss - A Caller from Grand Rapids (intro/outro story)
Charlie Cochet - A Caller from Windermere
Hailey Turner - A Caller from San Francisco
J.D. Light - A Caller from Springfield
Jenn Burke - A Caller from Ottawa
Kiki Burrelli - A Caller from Portland
Lisa Oliver - A Caller from New Orleans
Macy Blake - A Caller from Knoxville
Maz Maddox - A Caller from New York
Morgan Brice - A Caller from Pittsburgh
Pandora Pine - A Caller from Boston
Piper Scott - A Caller from Chicago
Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes - A Caller from Seattle
Silvia Violet - A Caller from Savannah
SJ Himes - A Caller from Montreal
Susi Hawke - A Caller from Austin
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